783. What to Plan for: Shabbos Chanukah
We should strive to complete all Shabbos preparations before lighting the menorah, so that the entire family can attend the lighting together. Ner Chanukah (the Chanukah candles) are kindled before the Shabbos candles which must be lit eighteen minutes before shkiah. Menorah-lighting time is therefore earlier on Friday than on any other day of Chanukah. Ner Chanukah may be lit any time after plag haminchah (“half of minchah”, i.e., one and a quarter halachic hours before shkiah; this year at ?:?? pm in NYC), although it is best to light it as close as possible to Shabbos candle lighting time.
Unlike all other days of Chanukah, on Friday evening it is not customary to linger beside the newly lit menorah for a half-hour
An extra-large quantity of oil (or long candles)* should be used on Friday, so that the menorah continues to burn for at least fifty minutes after sunset. According to many opinions, someone who failed to use the appropriate amount of oil, resulting in the lights being extinguished before the proper time, has not fulfilled the obligation of ner Chanukah. If the menorah is mistakenly lit with insufficient oil, the flames should be immediately extinguished, more oil added, and the menorah relit without a brachah. If the error is caught after personally accepting Shabbos—but it is still before shkiah—someone who has not yet accepted Shabbos may add oil. Similarly, if the menorah goes out before the onset of Shabbos, it should be rekindled by someone who has not yet accepted Shabbos.
*It should be noted that the ubiquitous 3.5 inch Chanukah candles are manufactured to burn a mere half-hour. This issue is exacerbated (even when lighting on other days of the week) when a large number of candles are lit in proximity to each other and the warm wax melts more quickly